Mayor Don Wesely today invited neighborhood representatives to participate in
the Neighborhood Leadership Program, a joint project of the city's Urban
Development Department, the Heartland Center for Leadership Development and
Neighborhoods, Inc. The project's first event is a Spring Training Day from
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at the new "F" Street Recreation Center,
13th and "F" streets.

"Lincoln is very fortunate to have strong neighborhood identity in all parts
of the city," said Mayor Wesely. "The goal of this project is to build
leadership skills within the neighborhoods, which can lead to stronger
neighborhood associations and, in turn, to a stronger community."

The Mayor will open Spring Training Day, which will include a keynote address
from J. Otis Smith, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Smith is an officer and senior consultant
with Stand By Systems II, Inc., which specializes in team development, conflict
resolution, diversity and leadership motivation.

Workshop topics will include newsletters, youth activities, clean-up projects,
filing applications for non-profit status, housing rehabilitation resources,
gardening and landscaping, media relations, meeting management, strengthening
membership, managing conflict, fund raising and working with local government.
The Spring Training Day will be followed by a fall workshop series to be held
over a two-month period.

The registration fee of $10 includes lunch, refreshments and an optional
Internet Training Lab from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 26 at UNL's Architecture
Hall. The registration deadline is April 22, and forms are available by calling
the Heartland Center at 474-7672 or on the city web site.

The Neighborhood Leadership Project is funded by the Community Development
Block Grant Program, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and the Woods
Charitable Fund with in-kind support from the Heartland Center.